Too Cozy

Okay, I'm having writer identity issues. I love my suspense novels, especially the supernatural type. And that's what I've set out to write. There was the slight diversion into romantic suspense, thanks to the Fearsome Foursome (aka. Fantastic Four), but it's still suspense. But I also love to slow down the pace and pick up a cozy, or not so cozy, mystery. I find that my writing pattern is matching my reading pattern. I have this strong desire to write a cozy mystery (series, hopefully) based on a retired detective who opens a diner in northern Michigan (God's country).

My friend Robin is gagging as we write/read. In her not-so-humble opinion, there must be the shedding of blood, or we have no story. I, however, love over the top characters as much as a love a good shock. In a suspense, the characters have to be pretty realistic. In a cozy mystery, you can have realistic or totally outrageous. If you read Story Board, you see I have a tendancy toward the outrageous.

So what's a writer to do? We're told to find our niche and stick to it. Sometimes I picture myself writing under two different names, one for suspense, one for mysteries. I'm sure many of my buds have this same problem. I know all of my CPs have toyed in more than one genre. Eventually you have to make a decision. Who knows, maybe Stephen King will come out with a chick lit next year. His chick will, undoubtedly, grow fangs every full moon, but still...

I guess if having too many ideas is my biggest problem, I'm doing okay.